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By Neil Evans

Track likely Soft 7 and rail True

The maidens get us underway on a track that should improve into soft range. Lightly raced Coffs mare 8. Amber Deluxe can strike fresh here first-up. Liked the way he trialled in heavy ground, and early runs in the prep last time were solid.

Dangers: Improving four-year-old 2. Berkinson returned for only his second start with a good closing run at big odds in a deeper maiden. Expect a forward run too from lightly raced five-year-old 3. Charge Again who resumes off a lengthy break with a stack of gerar changes, including blinkers being added; while 7. All Beans can give a sight second-up from the inside draw.

How to play it: Amber Deluxe to win
Odds and Evens: Evens

This looks a short-priced snap for resuming filly 4. Terrameades for the leading provincial stable. Raced against stronger last prep, winning her maiden by nearly six lengths, and has been fitted with two controlled trials.

Dangers: Doubt there are any, but 5. Humanitarian can run the quinella third-up, and draws to get a soft run back in the field. Include 3. Zacariah fourth run in; and honest local 6. Brazen Strike if you're playing the trifectas and first fours.

How to play it: Terrameades to win and quinella 3 and 5
Odds and Evens: Split

Tough three-year-old 2. Fighting Magnus looks thrown into this at the weights carrying only 1.5kg above the limit after the claim, and is the one to beat. Has been hitting the line all prep against deeper opposition, and can settle midfield before taking over in the straight.

Dangers: Consistent five-year-old 3. My Sonny's Faith hasn't started since early June, but normally comes to hand quickly, although likely to drift back and might struggle to get enough speed on here in the small field. Keep safe improving filly 8. Press Freedom who draws the fence and drops in weight; while 4. Consulaide can run into a place.

How to play it: Fighting Magnus to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Tricky tactical battle over the mile with a few chances. Trained on the track, four-year-old mare 5. Chase My Crown is a good wet tracker, and suited getting back out to his best distance. Was close-up in a much stronger Country C'ship Qualifier here before keeping ticking over with a nice heavy track trial 11 days ago.

Dangers: No doubting 6. Arctic Wolf is right at home in the going, and also searching for a bit more ground third-up. Tough six-year-old 7. Flying Mojo has hit the line from a long way back in his last two, and seemingly well treated on the limit weight. Capable five-year-old 2. Capri Lane stuck on okay after leading in a stronger race first-up, and gets significant weight relief; while include 4. Acoustix and last-start Class 3 winner 9. Mikado in all exotics.

How to play it: Chase My Crown to win and first four 5,6/4,5,6,7/2,4,5,6,7,9/2,4,5,6,7,9
Odds and Evens: Split

Progressive filly 14. In The Blink is primed to pounce third-up. Showed rapid improvement finding the line in a deeper maiden 16 days ago, and carries the same weight here. Was scratched from Scone on Sunday to be saved for this, and the main rival has come out.

Dangers: Watch the betting on improving four-year-old 2. Galbalan third-up; while 3. McGrath is also third-up after leading for a long way last start.

How to play it: In The Blink to win and quinella 2 and 14
Odds and Evens: Evens

Emerging and talented Pierro filly 3. Dauvenay is yet another one from a strong Kris Lees team, and comes off a dominant first-up win in heavy ground at Tamworth, surging home from well back. Up a little in weight, but stays at the trip and this isn't much harder.

Dangers: Tough five-year-old 2. All Too Holy gets suitable conditions again after finally breaking through fourth-up also coming from well back. Must respect improving mare 7. Asserting who comes back a little in distance six weeks between runs; while 9. Sippin Season is best of the rest deep into the prep.

How to play it: Dauvenay to win
Odds and Evens: Split

Keen on four-year-old mare 3. Baiyka third-up. Charged home to win a similar-graded race first-up off a lengthy break before failing to run on carrying 60.5kg from a wide draw in a deeper race. Better off here at the weights on a slowly drying track.

Dangers: Dangers: Keep safe 1. Franklin Corners who can improve sharply second-up dropping a long way in class; while 8. Memphis Squaw fifth-up from a better draw can figure in the finish.

How to play it: Baiyka to win
Odds and Evens: Odds

Good competitive race for this grade to finish. Progressive Lees-trained mare 5. Tawfiq Lass can bounce straight back after getting a mile out of her ground at Newcastle in a much tougher Midway C'ship Qualifier. Had previously powered home from midfield to beat a similar field, and nearly all her best form is on rain-affected ground.

Dangers: Progressive four-year-old 1. French Marine didn't shirk the task when getting home second-up in a race with a touch more depth, and drew to get a soft run just off the speed. A decision to sit closer in the run has paid immediate dividends for local four-year-old 4. Danish Fortune who has finished best to win his last two, and gets a little weight advantage after the claim. Watch for 3. Bigger Than Thorn getting home hard after making up plenty of late ground second-up at Port.

How to play it: Tawfiq Lass each way
Odds and Evens: Odds

BEST BETS:
R6 3. DAUVENAY
R7 3. BAIYKA

BEST VALUE:
R8 5. TAWFIQ LASS

All the fields, form and replays for Monday's Taree meeting